Man City set sights on new centre back

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini will look to bring in a new centre back to cover for captain Vincent Kompany, should the Premier League champions lose their appeal against the Belgium international’s red card that he picked up in their 2-0 win at Arsenal, say the Daily Mirror.

Kompany was shown a straight red card by referee Mike Dean at the Emirates for a studs-up two-footed challenge on Gunners midfield player Jack Wilshere and, despite the club appealing the decision, it seems unlikely that The Football Association’s disciplinary committee will overturn it.

And, that would mean City being without their influential skipper and key central defender for two top-flight matches, against Fulham and Queens Park Rangers, as well as the club’s FA Cup fourth-round trip to either Stoke City or Crystal Palace, leaving City with just two fit centre backs in the shape of Joleon Lescott and Matija Nastasic.

Consequently, Mancini is keeping close tabs on Borussia Dortmund’s highly-rated central-defensive duo Neven Subotic and Mats Hummels, although it is believed that neither would come cheap. Also on the Italian’s radar is believed to be Stoke’s England international Ryan Shawcross, who would cost in the region of £10 million, and Roma’s in-demand Italy international Daniele De Rossi.